Widely known as a prank among the fan base, Sonic's death has become real, as publisher Sega has released a free point-and-click visual novel on Steam that has players taking the role of an original character to solve the mystery behind the murder of Sonic.Do not fret about his death, because the game is not canon, meaning the fan-favorite character will appear in future games and projects without any health issues. Titled The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog, this single-player, point-and-click game has players uncovering a mystery on the Mirage Express as a character new to the series. The Blue Blur has been assassinated for no apparent reason and at an undisclosed time. Players will interrogate some suspects at Amy Rose's birthday party to shed light on the case before it's too late.
Sega publishing the game on Steam with no prior announcement makes it a solid April Fools' Day prank. It is clear that the company started the day by pulling off pranks on a grand scale, which seemingly scared some fans into thinking that Sonic's death is real. The game was not developed by the original Sonic Team, although Sega mentioned that it strongly believes in the power of headcanon. Needless to say that Sega's disclaimer did not help Sonic's most diehard fans start the day well. Luckily, they can now get to the bottom of the delusional mystery for free on Steam.
"Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the Mirage Express, featuring fully hand-drawn landscapes and characters," the official synopsis of the game reads. Knuckles the Echidna, Rogue the Bat, Shadow the Hedgehog, and Espio the Chameleon are among the characters players will interact with in simple conversations during the point-and-click adventure. In addition, the game features plenty of isometric platforming sections that players will likely need to solve to receive information.